Birds were singing their songs in a birch forest. A colorful forest of white trees with green canopies and green grass. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, but also carried someone's voice...

"We mustn't be far. These tracks are fresh, and this path isn't made for the wildlife."

Two men were venturing through the forest, threading a small crinkling path. One wore a leather jerkin with a white undergarment, while the other wore a red cloth tunic and a short red shoulder cloak fixed with a clasp on his chest. Both had a sword sheathed into a scabbard on their belt, a backpack and a hood that shrouded their face.

"By the Three Deities, I thought this place was just a tale people tell their children. Do you think actual Dragons are living here?" the red-clothed man asked.

"I don't know, and I don't want to find out. We must stay vigilant. We don't know anything about her. She might even kill us at first sight for as long as we know." the other man replied, "And remember, I'm not Roderick, and you're not Palavan. Until we know it's safe, we're just lost adventurers that discovered this land."

"Yeah, I got it." Palavan nodded before pointing in front of him.

"There, through the canopy. Several smokestacks. I think we're there. We'll just have to climb this hill."

Both messengers climbed the hill, groaning and grunting while helping each other up.

"This trip-" Roderick said, grunting as he was the first to be on top of the hill, "-better be worth it."

He stood up and looked in the distance. His wide eyes were glistening in the sun and his posture frozen in the dirt. "Ara be with us..."

"What is it?" Palavan asked, pulling himself up one last time before reaching the top as well. He immediately joined Roderick in his view and was just as amazed as he was.

A massive city covered the horizon, built along a mountain with crinkling staircases that led to rows of houses built on the mountain walls. The big castle was the highest point in the city. It looked like the city was part of the mountain, and the castle was the summit. Of course, the city wasn't even close to reaching the real summit of the mountain, but it surely seemed to be part of it.

Flocks of birds were flying by, and most houses had a smokestack coming out of their chimney. It was a beautiful sight, and a city design nobody had ever seen.

"How did she manage to do this...all by herself?" Roderick asked, the tone in his voice was shaky. The lower city was on the foot of the mountain, surrounded by stone walls.

"Remember what I said about this entire task being a waste of time?" Palavan asked, gazing towards the city. But Roderick remained silent.

"I totally take that back. I think we're in for quite the show."

"Are you sure you're not staying, Kiera?" Marlock asked. The entire fleet was anchored down beside the biggest island of the Ferronian Islands. People were leaving the ship, except for Kiera, Areiya, and Marlock.

"I'm sure. I won't be of much use here. If I go with Areiya, I might have a chance of seeing my family again. I'm not turning down such a chance."

Marlock nodded. "I understand. You're in good hands, Areiya is a great warrior."

Areiya scoffed. "You've never seen me fight."

"I don't have to see you fight to know you can. You're from the Melachir tribes, that says enough." Marlock smiled.

"I assume you're right." Areiya smirked and gave Kiera a nudge, "Come, my ship is about to leave."

"Be careful, Kiera. I wish you two good luck on your journey. The leather armor suits you." Marlock said. Valmir approached from down the bridge plank, having an impatient posture.

"Come on, Marlock. We have to discuss things about my sister and the other pirate captains."

Marlock looked behind him and nodded. "Aye, I'll be there in a moment." He looked back at Kiera and reached into his back pouch. He revealed two black berries in his hand — a grim expression on his face.

"These are called 'Blackshades.' When you eat them, your body will be shut down within a few seconds. There will be no pain. Only use it when you see no other way to escape the situation. These slavers treat rebels differently. You're better off dead than being in their hands, trust me."

Kiera accepted the berries hesitantly, taking a quick look to Areiya, who was looking at them as well.

"We won't need them," Areiya said.

"I trust you won't. Now go. When you succeed in your task, you know where to find us...farewell." Marlock said before turning around and leaving the ship. His steel armor clanked with his steps.

A moment later, Kiera and Areiya entered their ship. Sailors pulled the plank from the pier and spun the wheels to raise the anchor.

"Okay. Normally Jiron would be the best way to reach my tribe, but since we can't go there anymore, we'll go around to the east of Volaria. There will be no stopping point to rest...but we can make a simple camp somewhere." Areiya reached the captain's cabin by now and opened the door as she continued talking. "Do know Volaria is massive, and it will be a long journey through the desert."

Areiya went to a table as she ruffled between some scrolls and papers. "Just leather armor will suffice for most of the time, but we will face sandstorms. Not to mention the cold nights so you will need thicker clothing as well."

Kiera was slightly confused. "What are you looking for?"

Areiya gave some papers a quick read before throwing them away again. "Valmir's friend said he had some maps of hidden stashes in this ship. The pirates used those stashes to smuggle gear to each other to prevent them from being stolen by nomads or...my people. If we find those, our chances of surviving the desert will be much higher."

"Okay...so what if we find your tribe..then what?" Kiera asked.

"Let's think about that later. We need to get there, fi-..yes!" Areiya suddenly chuckled, holding up a map of Volaria, with stashes marked by crosses.

"Found it!" she said as she placed the map down on the captain's desk, pointing at them with her finger, "There are stashes..here..here and here. The closest one to the shore we'll be entering on is....at least a day's walk."

"Is it doable?" Kiera asked, watching the map as well.

"Well, it depends on what that stash has to offer us. If Ragohda is generous, we can last for a few days."

Areiya noticed Kiera pacing around while listening, and sighed. "Kiera, you're safe. Can't you just relax, there's no use being so tense all this time."

"I'll relax as soon as I saved my family," Kiera answered, holding her hands on her hips.

"This might sound harsh, Kiera, but most slaves don't do well, hence why they keep having to get new slaves all the time. Hasn't it crossed your mind yet that they..might not be alive anymore?"

Kiera glared at Areiya. "How could you even say that? They're strong. I know they will survive. I know they will..."

The tribal girl looked back at Kiera. "I'm sorry. I'm just saying; I don't want you to get your hopes up too much. I'll be in my quarters when you need me."

Kiera watched Areiya leave the room. When she closed the door behind her, Kiera shuffled towards the chair behind the desk and sat down. The silence made her think, memories flooded in. The attack on Jiron, Areiya leaving her to die, swimming in a lake with floating bodies, running away from the hunters. Thinking back to all of that, she released a small puff of breath as a tear ran down her cheek. After all that she's been through, she still couldn't believe she was here. Alive and well.

"There's the gate. But it's closed and unguarded...that's unusual." Roderick pointed at the gate of the mysterious city of the Forbidden Land in the distance.

"Do we approach?" Palavan asked, holding his hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. Roderick started threading towards the gate with care, and Palavan followed. When they approached the gate, white banners were hanging off the walls next to the big steel gate with a black gryphon symbol. Suddenly, the gates unlocked and opened, making Roderick and Palavan take quick steps back. A group of cavalry poured out.

They were in full steel armor and held halberds and spears while others were bearing a flag of the same sigil on the walls. They ran towards the two messengers and encircled them. The horse hooves trampled together, letting the dust fly up around Roderick and Palavan. They didn't know what was happening, so all they could do was look around helplessly as these heavily armored riders surrounded them.

Their horses nickered impatiently, and then they made way for someone coming from the gate. Another mounted warrior, but without a helmet this time. He was bald and covered in scars. He held his helmet beneath his armpit and the reins with his other hand.

"Drop your bags and weapons." his voice deep and cold. The messengers did what they were told.

"We don't mean any harm. We're here with a message from Emperor Areyn. Saenna's uncle." Palavan said with his hands slightly raised.

"You mean Queen Saenna. She doesn't want to talk to anyone outside Lunarion, and I have orders to behead anyone entering her lands. Give me one reason not to." The man growled.

"Just wait, please. This letter is very important, and it might determine the fate of your queen's..kingdom."

The bald warrior paused for a moment. "Knock them out."

Both Roderick and Palavan's heart skipped a beat when they heard it, darting their eyes around.

"Wai-wai-wait! I swear we're not-" Some mounted warriors approached the messengers and knocked them out both with the hilt of their spears and halberds.

Sometime later, they started waking up. Other than their ringing ears, it was silent. Roderick was the first to wake up fully. When his blurry vision restored, he noticed he was inside some hall. A castle hall. But he wasn't alone. While Palavan woke up as well, they were surrounded by at least six soldiers in steel armor. At the end of the room stood a big elegant throne shaped as a high-backed chair with armrests, adorned with ivory and shark bone plaques carved with mythological, heraldic and life scenes of the history of Oryn.

A squeaking door echoed through the room, followed by many footsteps. Roderick saw who entered the throne room, and he was astounded. A gorgeous woman, with snow-white iris eyes, light blonde hair and a white gown with a wing-like cloak in a subtle tone, made from woven feather-like, textured fabric. She wore a beautiful necklace, made of blue and white gemstones.

When she approached the two messengers, one of her royal guards went to stand beside her, gazing in front of him. The woman's advisor started the introduction.

"In front of you, stands Saenna Qoheris Valquen, Protector of the Last Guardian, Sentinel of Lunarion and Queen of Lunaria City. You are the first to ever set foot on this land after the queen and her people. What is it you desire?"

Roderick looked at Saenna in admiration. "We have a message from the Emperor. The queen's uncle."

"You mean the usurper that enslaves the entirety of Oryn?" Saenna spoke. A surprisingly young and fragile voice, "I have no quarrel with him, yet do I not support his ways and want anything to do with him. What does he want?"

Palavan presented the letter, sealed by the original symbol of House Valquen. "See for yourself..your grace."

The advisor took the letter instead and looked at Saenna, who nodded. She opened the letter and started reading out loud.

"My dear niece, Saenna. After all these years, I thought you were dead. During my conquest, you seemed to have disappeared from the realm. That was a tough wound to bear. But then one of my ships saw one of yours with a symbol they never saw before, headed towards The Forbidden Land. After the report, I knew it was you. Considering you have your own sigil and ships, I assume you have a great queendom of your own.

That is why I have sent these humble messengers to carry out my offer to you. Join my kingdom, and our family will be even more powerful than we are now. We can be the greatest House ever lived, and ever will live on this world. You won't have the need to hide in a lone and forgotten land anymore.

I will gladly await your reply. For the realm, for Valquen.

Paint the skies, make it ours.

Sincerely

Your uncle, Areyn."

For a moment, it was silent when Saenna's advisor was done reading the message. Saenna took the letter from her hands and paced towards one of the wall torches, letting the letter catch fire and disappear into the air like dust. She had a blank expression this whole time and paced back to the messengers.

"Behead them and send them to my uncle. Attach a letter, telling him that if he ever dares to send his tainted foot on my land again, I will burn everything he has to the ground, including himself."

Palavan and Roderick started panicking. "Wait! No!"

"Right here, your grace?" one of the royal guards asked, holding Palavan by the collar of his shirt.

"Right here," she answered.

"No, please! Plea-" Palavan's head flew off his body with one mighty swing of a sword, a sharp rasp of the blade cutting through flesh and bone. Roderick tried to escape, but alas, to no avail. First, he was impaled by a greatsword, then beheaded as well. Two puddles of blood were expanding on the marble floor beneath their lifeless bodies. An eerie silence loomed in the throne room as Saenna walked away.

"Make sure to clean up the blood, and prepare my army for war in case my uncle gets any funny ideas."

"Of course, your grace." the advisor nodded and walked off, doing as she was told.

End of ACT I